Ember Friday

On the traditional calendar, we are in the midst of the September Ember Days. Fasting (only one meal, two smaller that don't amount to one) and complete abstinence from meat were required. One of the important aspects of the Ember Days was their connection to the priesthood inasmuch as they were the days favored for ordinations and the faithful were encouraged to pray for good priests.

I propose that all those who are concerned with the Church's traditions, liturgical and otherwise, dedicate these days to prayer and fasting especially for all those priests who are/will be attempting to put into practice the provisions of Summorum Pontificum, often in the face of latent or patent hostility.


Angelus Press's 1962 hand Missal on the Ember Days:

"At the beginning of the four seasons of the Ecclesiastical Year, the Ember Days have been instituted by the Church to thank God for blessings obtained during the past year and to implore further graces for the new season. Their importance in the Church was formerly very great. They are fixed on the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday: after the First Sunday of Lent for spring, after Pentecost Sunday for summer, after the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross (14th September) for autumn, and after the Third Sunday of Advent for winter. They are intended, too, to consecrate to God the various seasons in nature, and to prepare by penance those who are about to be ordained. Ordinations generally take place on the Ember Days. The faithful ought to pray on these days for good priests."

See also the Catholic Encyclopedia article on Ember Days.